[13] Bagis said that there are differences of opinions within the EU
Commission regarding the competition chapter

Main subjects in today's Turkish Cypriot press are the continued
reactions for the Trade Unions' visit to Brussels, reactions regarding
the construction of high-rising buildings, reactions on the so-called
parliament regarding the proposals of President Christofias, distribution
of land plots to young farmers in occupied Prastio and Maratha, reactions
by environmental organizations regarding the construction of a nuclear
power plant in the seismogenic area of Akkuyu, Turkey and other internal
issues.

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (29.03.11) reports that the former Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas criticized the KTOS general secretary for his
statements in Brussels. Denktas said that Elcil does not accept the fact
that he is a Turkish Cypriot, and that if he was a citizen of the "TRNC"
he wouldn't say such things. Denktas said that if Elcil is ashamed he is
not able to face the people of "TRNC," since Turkey [which Elcil called
to withdraw its occupational troops] is the guarantee and security for
all the "TRNC institutions" in Cyprus and the future of the Turkish
Cypriots. Denktas also stated: "I am asking the chief prosecutor: our
laws are so liberal that allow partnerships with those who try to remove
us from here."

Moreover, the Turkish "Fighters'" Association (TMT) reacted strongly
against the Trade Unions who went to Brussels. In its written statement,
TMT says that those who do not see the "assimilation" of our people by the
Greek Cypriots and blame Turkey are traitors and want to confuse. Also it
states that these Trade Unions do not represent the will of the Turkish
Cypriot people, but serve Greek Cypriots and other foreigners. Therefore,
concludes the statement, all these are efforts to damage the relationship
with Turkey the sole guarantor of the "TRNC."

[02] Trade Unions return from Brussels and reiterate that efforts are
exerted by Turkey to colonize occupied north Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (29.03.11) reports that the representatives
of the ten Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions who visited Brussels last week
have reiterated that efforts are exerted by Turkey to colonize the
occupied northern part of Cyprus. The representatives of the Unions
organized a press conference yesterday in the occupied part of Lefkosia
regarding their contacts and activities in Brussels.

Ahmet Kaptan, chairman of the "Civil Servants" Trade Union (KTAMS),
said that during the past two years the Turkish Cypriots experienced
serious social and economic problems, as a result of the fact that the
UBP "government" implements the orders of the AKP government instead of
fulfilling its own promises. He noted that during their visit to Brussels,
upon the invitation of the Left Group in the European Parliament, the
Trade Unions briefed their interlocutors on the latest developments in the
Cyprus problem, the problems of the Turkish Cypriots, the responsibilities
of the EU towards the Turkish Cypriots and the actions of the Turkish
Government against the Turkish Cypriots. He said it is not true that the
Turkish Cypriot Unions visited Brussels together with the group of AKEL,
as Andros Kyprianou, AKEL's General Secretary has reportedly stated.

A joint statement issued by the ten Unions recalled that the Turkish
Cypriots voted "yes" to the Annan Plan and added that their economy is
not developed because they are not included in the customs union with
the EU and added: "We are face to face with communal extinction because
this situation increases our dependence on Turkey. On the other hand,
efforts are exerted by Turkey to colonize our island. In the same way that
Turkey has not respected the international agreements, it led the Turkish
Cypriots to communal extinction with the stance it exhibited after 1974".

The statement also says that the population in the occupied part of the
island is not known. According to the statement, it is estimated that
130 thousand Turkish Cypriots live in the occupied area, which has a
population of more than 800 thousands.

In statements during the press conference, Sener Elcil, general secretary
of KTOS, said they visited Brussels in order to convey the realities on
the island. He noted that the population in the occupied part of Cyprus
increased by 1.1% between the years 1999 and 2004, by 1% in 2005 and
by 16.9% in 2006. He argued that this increase of population was not
normal. "Our problem is with those who govern us and the Government of
Turkey, not with the Turkish people", he said.

Finally, Memduh Ceto, chairman of Guc-Sen, said that the ten Trade Unions
visited Brussels because they remain committed to their struggle. He added
that they could go anywhere within the framework of this struggle. He
recalled that Turkish Prime Minister Erodgan urged the world to listen to
the voice of the Egyptian people and added that the Turkish Cypriot Unions
urged the people in Brussels to listen to the voice of the participants
in the rallies at Inonu Square in the occupied part of Lefkosia.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (29.03.11) reports on statements by Tahir
Gokcebel, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers'
Union (KTOEOS), who said that the assaults targeting the unions' contacts
in Brussels, are being made intentionally and show disrespect towards
the Turkish Cypriots who participated in the two mass rallies.

Speaking on behalf of KTOEOS' executive committee, Gokcebel reacted
to the latest assaults by various politicians and said that the real
"traitors, agents and provocateurs" are not the unionists but those,
who for years now, ignore the demands of the Turkish Cypriots.

Condemning the assaults towards the unions, Gokcebel noted that they,
as KTOEOS, were in Brussels as well, and if it is necessary they will
protest in front of the UN headquarters as well in order to make the
voice of the Turkish Cypriots be heard. He, inter alia, added that
the Turkish Cypriots are right to their struggle "for governing their
country by themselves and for being masters of their own country". "This
struggle will not be exterminated with pressures, insists and fait
accomplis. Everyone should respect this. On this issue, our struggle
will be continued until it is concluded," Gokcebel noted.

[04] More reactions to the rejection by Eroglu of President Christofias'
proposal for a population census

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (29.03.11) reports that Huseyin Angolemli,
"MP" with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that the rejection
of holding a simultaneous population census with "south Cyprus", as
he described the Republic of Cyprus, derives from the aim of further
increasing the population [in the occupied part of the island].

Speaking yesterday at the "assembly", Angolemli referred to the
discussions on transferring the "State Planning Organization" ("DPO")
to the self-styled ministry of economy and energy. He said it is not
important to which "ministry" the above-mentioned organization will be
bound, because "DPO" cannot make a planning without knowing the population
of the "country".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (29.03.11) reports that speaking
at the same session of the "assembly", Serdar Denktas, chairman of the
Democratic Party (DP), said that the population of the "country" should
be known so as to be able to make a planning. He described as "correct"
the first reaction of the Turkish side to President Christofias' proposal
on carrying out a simultaneous population census. He said international
observers do not go to the occupied area of Cyprus because the breakaway
regime is not recognized. Denktas claimed that the Greek Cypriot side
wants to exploit the issue.

Writing also in Havadis (29.03.11), Turkish Cypriot columnist Basaran
Duzgun assesses the rejection of President Christofias' proposal for
a population census by Eroglu. Under the title "Turkish Cypriots too
do not want more than 50 thousands", Duzgun argues that launching new
debates and quarrels regarding the "people of Turkish origin", as he
describes the illegal Turkish settlers in the occupied part of Cyprus,
"seriously harms both the ongoing negotiations on the Cyprus problem
and the rights, which the Turkish Cypriots obtained at the negotiating
table and are approved by the world".

Duzgun claims that Eroglu's stance leads to that direction and recalls
that the Annan Plan provided for 50 thousand settlers "to become citizens
of the common state".

Duzgun wonders why Eroglu brought the issue into the agenda again in
spite of the fact that President Christofias accepted these 50 thousand
settlers, despite the harsh criticism against him in the Greek Cypriot
community. Duzgun wonders also what Eroglu was aiming by visiting the
occupied Famagusta area, where many settlers live, and by stating that
"everybody is our citizen".

He goes on writing that the Turkish Cypriots worry much more than
the foreigners about the developments regarding the population and
the practice followed by the regime on the issue of granting its
"citizenship". He notes, inter alia, the following:

"In any case, the Turkish Cypriots are experiencing a trauma because
of the fact that they have stopped being the majority in the streets,
the schools, the hospitals and similar places. Excessive worry exists
regarding the citizenship distributed by the Council of Ministers? The
issue is like a volcano within us ready to explode. Is it right to incite
this? Does esteem President believe that those who were granted the TRNC
citizenship last week with a decision of the Council of Ministers will be
made citizens of the common state? We hope he does not think that, because
the Turkish Cypriots themselves are the first who will oppose to this.

It was accepted that 50 thousand persons from Turkey will become citizens
of the new state. Some who will become citizens as a requirement of
the international law could be added [to this number]?Of course the 50
thousand is not a holly number. Bargaining could be made on it. However,
saying that 'anyone who I want will become citizen of the common state'
is tantamount to actually not wanting the establishment of a common
state. And this means that you do not want a solution. Eroglu and his team
were exhibiting a good performance regarding the negotiations. I hope they
continue in the same manner. Otherwise, big disasters will happen to us".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Self-styled deputies to hold meetings with the European Parliament's
Contact Group

According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 28.03.11), two self-styled
deputies from the "TRNC Parliament" are to hold a series of contacts
in Brussels. The National Unity Party (UBP) self-styled deputy Ergun
Serdaroglu and the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG)
self-styled deputy Teberruken Ulucay will hold tomorrow meetings with
members of the European Parliament's High Level Contact Group for
Relations with the Turkish Cypriots. They are expected to return on the
1st of April.

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (29.03.11) reports that the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu met yesterday the British High Commissioner Matthew
Kidd. The meeting took place at Eroglu's office at the "presidential
palace".

As the paper reports, Eroglu's spokesman Osman Ertug and Hasan Gungor
"undersecretary" of the Turkish Cypriot leader were also present at the
meeting. No statements were made after the meeting.

(AK)

[07] More reactions on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (29.03.11) reports on statements by Dogan
Sahir, chairman of the Green Peace Action regarding the construction of
a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu town of southern province of Mersina.

In his statements to the paper, Sahir referred to the nuclear disaster
which continues in Japan after the tsunami and the earthquakes and
underlined the big threat from the construction by Turkey of a power
plant in Akkuyu town in Mersina.

Referring to the possibility of an earthquake or a radiation leakage
in Cyprus, Sahir stated that Cyprus, in such an event, will completely
disappear, taking into consideration that the island is unprepared to
confront with these situations.

Speaking also on the issue, Pinar Soganci, responsible for the Climate and
Energy Campaign of Greenpeace, stated to the paper that it is unacceptable
the building of a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu and referred to researches
saying that in a short period of time an earthquake is to take place in
the area since the fault line there is active.

Pinar Soganci stated further that it is necessary to take into
consideration the fact that the power plant is to be built in a tourist
area. Soganci said that if only Cyprus and Antalya which are very close to
Akkuyu are accepted as tourist areas, this might prevent the construction
works of the power plant.

Soganci underlined then that since Turkey is entering into an election
period, the efforts for the construction of the power plant will
be intensified. She then added the need to go into action as soon as
possible and said that they intend to file a lawsuit on this issue.

(AK)

[08] So-called interior ministry to distribute land plots to youngsters

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (29.03.11) in its front-page, reports on
statements of the so-called minister of interior Ilkay Kamil that 85
land plots in occupied Prastio and 10 land plots in occupied Maratha
will be given to young people in order to continue living in their places
of birth.

[09] Reactions for the construction of skyscrapers in occupied Kerynia

Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi (29.03.11) reports that the former
mayor of occupied Lefkosia and former chairman of the Turkish Cypriot
Municipalities Association Mustafa Akinci commented on the skyscrapers
to be built in Keryneia. "In North Cyprus there is not any land property
left to distribute. Now it is the sky's turn" said Akinci, who argued
that such buildings are not suited for Keryneia's architecture but for
Las Vegas. He also said that in the past years there are discussions
for landmark buildings, but having tall, multi-storied buildings does
not add any prestige.

On the other hand, the mayor of occupied Lefkosia, Cemal Bulutoglulari
supported the constructions of tall buildings and said that multi-storied
buildings can be found in every city in the world, and in many cases
these building add prestige to the cities. He defended his vision for
the future of Lefkosia and said that if there are any businessmen who
want to invest in skyscrapers in Keryneia, they should consider Lefkosia
and that he is ready to assist them.

Statements by Prime Minister Erdogan prior to his departure for Iraq that
Turkey has accepted three tasks under NATO roof, to take control of the
Benghazi airport, to take part in monitoring of the air space and deploy
Turkish naval forces within the corridor between Crete and Benghazi,
Erdogan's statement during his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart,
Al Maliki for the need to boost cooperation with Iraq, Davutoglu's
participation today to a summit about Libya in London, a report that
the Turkish Government has the authority to create "decree laws", the
election campaign in Turkey and other internal issues are some of the
main stories highlighted by today's Turkish press.

Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 28.03.11), with the above
title, reports that Turkey is assuming control of the Benghazi airport,
and is sending naval forces to patrol the corridor between the rebel-held
city and Crete, as it prepares to attend a London meeting on the
international response to Libya.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that Turkey would take
control of the airport in order to coordinate humanitarian assistance
to the crisis-hit North African country as part of the multinational
task force now under NATO command.

"Turkey said 'yes' to three tasks within NATO: the takeover of Benghazi
airport for the delivery of humanitarian aid, the task about control
of the air corridor and the involvement of Turkish naval forces in the
corridor between Benghazi and Crete," Erdogan told a news conference at
Ankara's Esenboga airport before departing for neighbouring Iraq.

NATO member states reached a consensus last week about leading Libya
operations under the alliance's command. The Turkish Parliament passed a
motion last Thursday authorizing the country's military to participate
in the international force in Libya and the government to make a
"multi-dimensional contribution."

Turkey has pressed for broad-based participation in the Libya mission
? including the Arab League, the African Union and the Organization of
the Islamic Conference ? to secure a peaceful transition in Libya and
meet the legitimate needs of the Libyan people, Erdogan said.

"We have never been and will never be a country that would fire on and
bomb conflicting sides in Libya," he said.

Turkey will be represented at the international conference about Libya
set to be held Tuesday in London. Erdogan said Turkey's insistence on
ensuring broad-based participation in the summit was acknowledged. "Thus
NATO will not be left alone in Libya," he said.

The London conference is expected to discuss the situation in Libya
and take stock of the implementation thus far of U.N. Security Council
Resolutions No. 1970 and 1973. The British Government previously
announced that a wide range of countries would be invited, particularly
from the Middle East and North African region, in order to take united
and coordinated action in response to the unfolding crisis.

The meeting is expected to establish a contact group of nations. Though
it is not yet clear if Turkey will join this grouping, a Turkish diplomat
said such mechanisms are sometimes useful ? as in the case of Kosovo ? and
that Ankara would evaluate the situation if it were asked to participate.

Once reluctant Turkey is now taking a critical role in NATO operations
in Libya, pledging five vessels and one submarine to a NATO patrol
mission to enforce a U.N. arms embargo against the regime of Moammar
Gaddafi. Additionally, Turkey's NATO base in the Aegean province of
Izmir was selected as the centre for operations monitoring the no-fly
zone in Libya following the lifting of Turkey's previous opposition to
any kind of NATO involvement in the North African country.

[11] Erdogan cancels again Brussels trip due to criticisms over press
freedom

According to a report by Serkan Demirtas writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet
Daily News (online, 28.03.11), the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has cancelled his April 1 trip to Brussels to avoid criticisms
from EU officials over the deterioration of press freedom, the paper
has learned from diplomatic sources.

"The visit was not announced and was not finalized. So we cannot talk
about cancelling the trip," diplomatic sources told the Daily News on
Monday. "The prime minister has the intention to go to Brussels either
before or after the elections."

Erdogan was scheduled to meet with top EU officials, including Herman van
Rompuy, President of the EU Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, President
of the European Commission. A joint press conference was also in the
program during the Brussels talks.

The decision to cancel the trip was taken following harsh criticism from
EU figures about the state of press freedom in Turkey after the arrest
of journalists Nedim Sener and Ahmet S1k. The tone of the criticism
sharpened following the seizure of an unpublished book by S1k and the
destruction of digital copies of the manuscript.

Stefan F?le, the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, publicly
criticized the book raids. The seizure of Ahmet S1k's draft book based
on a court order is a further cause of concern, he said Friday through
a spokesperson. Turkey urgently needs to amend its legal framework to
improve the exercise of the freedom of the press in practice and in a
significant manner."

Diplomatic sources said that the primary reason for the cancellation
of Erdogan's trip to Brussels was taken so as to save him from public
criticism and a possible quarrel with EU officials. Erdogan, who is
holding talks in Iraq on Tuesday, will travel to London on Wednesday to
attend a business forum and to meet with Queen Elizabeth.

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.03.11), Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will attend an international conference in London
to be hosted by Britain on Tuesday to discuss the future of Libya. The
conference will bring together Foreign Ministers of 35 countries and
officials.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
and Chairperson of the Commission of African Union Jean Ping are among
the participants of the conference.

[13] Bagis said that there are differences of opinions within the EU
Commission regarding the competition chapter

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.03.11), Turkey's State
Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis, speaking at a
news conference held in Turkey's new EU Permanent Representation building
which is expected to enter into service soon, said nobody had the right
to question Turkey's will power for EU reforms, adding that both the
ruling and the opposition of Turkey were resolved to fulfil EU reforms.

Referring to the chapter on competition, Bagis said: "We do our
best. Turkey gained a government support authority in this scope. A road
map and a strategy document have been formed to see at what stage some
supports can be synchronized with the EU regulations. Everybody worked
devotedly to achieve this goal."

Bagis also said there were differences of opinion within the EU Commission
regarding the competition chapter. "This is something which they should
resolve within themselves. We have told them what Turkey could do and
could not do. Our European counterparts finally comprehended very clearly
that we will not put Turkey's economy into a crisis for EU," he added.

Bagis said statements of some circles that Turkey deviated from the EU
were not convincing and that "some circles here focused opening of the
chapter on competition before the elections in Turkey. However, I should
clarify that nothing much will change in Turkey in the elections. Both
the ruling and the opposition parties are apparent."

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (28.03.11), Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the Turkish-Iraqi Business
Forum in Baghdad, said Monday that though Turks and Iraqis use different
languages, their feelings are the same.

Touching on economic relations between Turkey and Iraq, Erdogan said that
new border gates had to be put into service between the two countries,
adding that "just as we are Iraq's door to the Black Sea, Caucasus and
Europe, Iraq happens to be our gate to the Gulf region and the Indian
Ocean".

"We must increase our current trade volume of 10 billion USD to 20
billion USD in the near future", Erdogan said.

"Turkey is the second country after China with the highest number of
construction companies in Iraq with 36 Turkish construction companies
currently operating. Our contractors are ready to serve Iraq in the
re-construction of the country", Erdogan said.

Iraq is one of our crucial trade partners, Erdogan added, while the Iraqi
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, on his part, said that Iraq had recently
become more secure. The Turkish-Iraqi Business Forum aims at bringing
the businessmen of the two countries closer. There is a need in Iraq
for the re-construction in many fields. There are great opportunities
for Turkish companies in Iraq, al-Maliki stressed.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 29.03.11) with the above title
reports that Turkey will sign a regional cooperation agreement in the
field of banking with three of its southern neighbours with whom it
envisions establishing a single market, an example of regional economic
cooperation that many say is the Middle East version of the European
Union, the head of the country's Central Bank said on Monday.

Central Bank of Turkey Governor Durmus Y1lmaz addressed bankers from
Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey at a conference titled Enhancing
Shamgen Banking: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in Istanbul
yesterday. As a result of this agreement, trade and investments between
these countries will be supported and facilitated," he said, adding that
the planned agreement will also complement free trade and visa-exemption
agreements signed earlier between the four countries.

The council plans to develop a long-term strategic partnership and to
create a zone of free movement of goods and persons among them. "Although
this conference is a step toward improving relations between the banking
sectors of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the short term, it is
expected to contribute to the formation of a single market with the
inclusion of other countries in the region in an area encircled by the
Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, Y1lmaz said during
his speech at the conference.

The countries aspirations to establish the planned single market in
the Middle East are interpreted as a sign of the rise of an EU-like
regional economic integration. Even the name of the conference proved
how appropriate those interpretations are. The word "Shamgen" is a
combination of "Sham," the way the name of the Syrian capital of Damascus
is pronounced in Turkish as well as in Arabic and with the meaningless
"gen" to make it sound like the Schengen area, which comprises the
territories of the 25 European states that act like a single state when
it comes to international travel without internal border controls and
visa requirements.

For Y1lmaz, Turkish banks can make a substantial contribution to
the improvement of the banking systems in the region. At the end of
January of this year, the total assets of Turkish banks amounted to TL
1.02 trillion ($641 billion) with a 24.8% year-on-year rise while the
volume of loans they extended increased to TL 536.6 billion with a 2%
year-on-year increase. Their monthly profit totalled TL 1.5 billion.

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (29.03.11), officials from
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) held a series
of talks at the U.S. Congress and the Department of State on the first
day of their visit to Washington.

As part of their visit, CHP members got together with senior officials
Tina Kaidanow and Nancy McEldowney from the Bureau of European and
Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. State Department, as well as Republican
Senator from Arizona John McCain and American-Turkish Council's (ATC)
President James Holmes.

Speaking to reporters after the meetings, Koruturk said they had as usual
expected questions about Armenian allegations, Cyprus, Turkish-Greek
relations and regional developments during their talks. He said however,
U.S. officials were rather curious about the restrictions against freedom
of press in Turkey.

"We have seen that the most striking opinion about Turkey was the
perception that the country's democracy was going backwards," Koruturk
said.

The deputy chairperson said CHP delegation also got the impression that
the U.S. officials thought Turkey was not displaying the exact leadership
role expected from it concerning the social movements in the Middle East.

Koruturk also noted that the U.S. officials showed great interest in
CHP's new structure.

He said all their U.S. counterparts welcomed CHP's outgoing stance on
improving its contacts and position in international relations.
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